Agenda item

The Committee had before it a statement of outstanding motions under the Committee’s remit, which had been prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services. 

With regards motion 3 by Councillor Boulton that requested:-

“That a report be brought to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee on the number of potholes caused by poor road repairs carried out by utility companies. The report should outline the number of potholes created by poor repairs to the area dug up by utility companies, the cost to the Council and suggestions on how monies could be redeemed from the utility companies.”

The Committee had before it a tabled report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure in response to this matter and to the Committee’s request that a report on the process by which road repairs undertaken by third parties were inspected and monitored be submitted.

The report explained that during the winter period surface around covers for both Council and utility companies had suffered damage, the damaged surfaces around the utility companies covers had been reported to them. An overview of the problem of surface damage was provided. Over the years, the Council had tried many different solutions to this problem; unfortunately none of the methods had been 100% successful.

With regards liability for the road repair, it was advised that at present utility companies had permanent liability for ironwork, as such they are required to maintain the ironwork and the immediate surrounding area. However, in terms of defective track work, it was advised that this area of work had two different time periods which were dependent on depth. Utility companies did not tend to repair potholes of a section of track was defective within the timescales then that section would be removed and reinstated, the liability period of 2 or 3 years would start again from this new repair date.

In order to carry out control of the works carried out by utility companies the service required staff to check on who was on the road what work they were carrying out and when the final reinstatement should be taking place. All of this information should be available through the Roadworks Register (symology), unfortunately because of deregulation, connection to properties could be carried out by independent contractors who did not always register the schemes. To try and improve inspection of utility operations and comply with the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005, a new structure had been developed, and approved by the Committee, and was currently awaiting for HR agreement of the grades for each position. Details of the current staffing position within this team were provided.

Finally, over the last two years the number of utility failures reported for the last two years were as follows:-

Defective Apparatus – 578 reported by ACC inspectors

Routine Inspection – 134 reported by ACC and public

Sample Inspection – 10 out of 547 tested

Coring - 18 out of 58 tested and 9 marginal of 58 tested

Total Failures = 749

In terms of performance, Aberdeen recorded 31% coring failures and 16% for coring marginal, whilst the Scottish average for both was 34% and 9% respectively.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to note that separate reports on motions 2 (Councillor Adam – Condition of Pavement during Adverse Weather Conditions) and 4 (Councillor Young – Requirement for a Suitable Crossing or other means of assistance for the Residents of Clashieknowe Extra Care Housing) were to be considered later on today’s agenda, and to delete subject to the decision taken at that point;  and

(ii)        in relation to motion 3 (Councillor Boulton – Potholes caused by Poor Road Repairs carried out by Utility Companies), to note the written report tabled by the Roads Manager, in this regard and to delete from the motions list.